China keen to push peace initiatives and deepen ties with Palestine: vice-premier

RAMALLAH - China will implement the relevant initiatives raised by the Chinese president and continue to deepen mutual trust and enrich cooperation with Palestine, visiting Chinese Vice-Premier Liu Yandong said Thursday.

China will implement the relevant initiatives of Chinese President Xi Jinping raised early this year and to further promote the traditional friendship between China and Palestine, Liu said during a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

During the meeting, Liu said that in January, Chinese President Xi Jinping made it clear in a speech at the Arab League headquarters that the Palestinian question should not be marginalized or forgotten, and he also made a strong appeal on activating the peace process and promoting reconstruction.

China actively supports the Palestinian side to strengthen capacity building, and is ready to work with Palestine to implement the initiatives announced by President Xi, Liu stressed.

According to Liu, peace, development and cooperation have become irresistible trends of the times. Therefore, resolving the Palestinian question has become more prominent than ever before.

China supports the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with full sovereignty on the basis of the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, Liu said.

Liu also reiterated China's strong and committed support for Palestine as always, adding that China backs any plan to restore peace talks and achieve peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel.

Talking about the recent deteriorating situation on the ground, Liu stressed that peace talk is the only way to resolve the conflict. She called on Israelis and Palestinians to rebuild trust and strive for an early resumption of peace talks.

Extending heartfelt thanks, Abbas said that for 50 years, China has always respected and supported the position of the Palestinians, providing valuable political and economic support to the people. He believed that with such support and help, the two nations will further deepen the bilateral relations.

Abbas said violence, use of force and terrorism can only bring destruction, not peace, and Palestinians insisted that through peace talks, the Palestinian and Israeli youth will see the hope of peaceful coexistence between them.

During a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, Liu said that traditional friendship between China and Palestine is deeply rooted and China is ready to push bilateral relations forward.

China and Palestine should continue mutual support and cooperation in both bilateral and multilateral levels, she suggested.

China has always firmly supported the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights, and will continue to offer support in the political, economic and other aspects, Liu reiterated.

China appreciates Palestinian's enthusiasm towards the One Belt One Road initiative, and would like to encourage competent Chinese enterprises to invest in Palestine, Liu said.

China is willing to share the successful experience of economic zones in China, and deepen exchanges in the areas of education, culture, science and technology with Palestine, Liu added.

For his part, Hamdallah said China is one of the earliest countries to recognize Palestine Liberation Organization and Palestinian state, and China has also played an important role to promote the Middle East peace process.

He hoped to continue receiving precious support from China and to strengthen bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, education, culture, scientific research, tourism and so on, Hamdallah said.